The 37th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America will be held June 16-19, 2009, in OrlandoFlorida. The following overtures have been sent from Presbyteries; they can be read at PCA GA Overtures.

Overture 1 from Missouri Presbytery is entitled “Amend BCO 37-7″ (no text is available for the overture yet), which is the chapter entitled The Removal of Censure.” Section 7 addresses the removal of censure by the new presbytery or church when an officer under censure has relocated.

Overture 2 from Potomac Presbytery recommends amending Rules of Assembly Operations (RAO) 19-4.d, 14-9.h, and 15-8.g, “Amend RAO Governing Debate on Minority Reports.” The overture proposes changing these sections to allow a longer time for debate on motions with minority reports. As presently written, the RAO sets the time of debate at 10 minutes for a main motion while the proposed amendment suggests 60 minutes of debate, extendable in 10 minutes increments by a simple majority, for reports or processed overtures with a substitute motion coming from the committee of commissioners.

Overture 3 from Central Carolina Presbytery (“Amend BCO34-1 and 33-1 Regarding Assumption of Original Jurisdiction””) seeks to change the language in BCO 33-1 and 34-1 as to when a higher court may “Assume Original Jurisdiction” over a particular matter of dispute or complaint. The overture suggests removing the provision “if the Presbytery refuses to act.” The overture argues that this is ambiguous or not precise, language. The overture also suggests changing from two presbyteries to five to request General Assembly to assume original jurisdiction in a Presbytery matter. For a Presbytery to assume original jurisdiction over a session matter the number is left at two other sessions.

Overture 4 from Heritage Presbytery seeks to formalize the use of the term “Interim Pastor,” a term that currently not used in the BCO. At the present time the BCO uses Stated Supply (see BCO 22-5, 6) for a temporary pastor, but the overture asserts that Interim Pastors is used on a regular basis.

Overture 5 from James River Presbytery requests that the GA “Appoint Study Committee on Role of Women in the Church.” The overture asks for a study committee that would report to the 38th General Assembly and address:

1. What sorts of roles may women fill in the life of the church?
2. What are some models of local church practices that have developed as ways of employing the gifts of women in the lives of their congregations that might be exemplary and encouraging to other local churches?
3. What elements of organization and accountability to ordained leadership can be commended to PCA churches that are consistent with the BCO?
4. What modifications, if any to the BCO might be desirable for achieving the best utilization of the gifts of PCA women in light of the teaching of Scripture?

Overture 6 from Central Carolina Presbytery: “Amend BCO59-1 and 59-6 and then grant amended Chapter 59, ‘The Solemnization of Marriage, full constitutional authority.'”
The overture asks that the portion of the Directory for Worship section on marriage detinguish ecclesiastical marriage from the civil definition of marriage, and begin the process to give the marriage section full constitutional authority instead of the advisory authority it has now.

Overture 7 from Southeast Louisiana Presbytery: “Declare SJC Manual 16 Unconstitutional; Request SJC to Amend Manual Section 16.” The overture asks that Section 16 of the Standing Judicial Commission Manual be declared unconstitutional because it is out of accord with the Book of Church Order. (Editor’s note: While the overture does not make reference to or base its request on it, the BCO was amended a few years ago to remove the provision for Memorials from BCO 40-5, which suggests that SJCM 16 may be void by that action.)

Overtures 8 and 9, both from Ascension Presbytery, propose to amend BCO 13-6 that deals with the ministers transferring into the PCA from other denominations. Overture 8 (“Amend BCO13-6 to Clarify the Examinations that Must Be Sustained by Men Coming from Other Denominations”) would make a distinction between ministers transferring from denominations who are in fraternal relations with the PCA and those from other denominations. Those from churches in fraternal relations with the PCA would only be required to stand for the same examination as a PCA minister transferring another Presbytery. Those from other denominations would be required to have an examination similar to candidates for ordination to PCA ministry, if the presbytery deems it necessary.

Overture 9 (“Amend BCO13-6 to Require that Men Coming from Other Denominations Must Declare and Have Judged by Presbytery Any Differences with The Confession of Faith and Catechisms”) would add a requirement to BCO 13-6 that ministers transferring from other denominations state any theological differences they may have from the Westminster Standards.

[Editors note: Some of the original URLs (links) referenced in this article are no longer valid, so the links have been removed.]